When searching for accredited accounting degree programs in Nebraska, students have several options at highly rated universities. Known throughout the United States as an agriculturally significant state, Nebraska may not seem like an obvious choice for pursuing a degree in accounting. However, the Cornhusker State has progressed in recent years to encompass a broader range of jobs and industries, and accounting remains an important part of the economy regardless of the location. For instance, Certified Public Accountants earn an average of $54,000 per year in the state capital of Lincoln while Corporate Controllers earn around $84,000 per year in the area. The following offers an overview of graduate accounting programs in Nebraska.

University of Nebraska at Kearney

College of Business and Technology

Founded just over a 100 years ago in 1905, the University of Nebraska at Kearney boasts a number of distinctions including technologically advanced classrooms, a nearly 100 percent job placement rate for students in many degree programs and 27 graduate programs serving 1,550 students. The school serves as a cultural and academic center for the state, and accounting students who study here will find an academically sound program that prepares them for life beyond academia. Housed under the university’s College of Business and Technology, the Master of Business Administration — Accounting Concentration combines theoretical study with practical learning experiences.

Master of Business Administration–Accounting Concentration

As a graduate business program first and foremost, the Master of Business Administration–Accounting Concentration program offered by the University of Nebraska at Kearney is designed to help students prepare for careers as leaders in the corporate world. Students in the program will engage in real-world assignments designed to strengthen their skills as team leaders, develop better communication and integrate critical thinking skills to solve accounting dilemmas. The program requires 30 total credit hours to be divided into 15 hours of core business classes and 15 hours of accounting courses. Students may choose two electives within the accounting requirement, and electives cover a broad range of subjects such as non-profiting or governmental accounting, advanced auditing, and tax accounting. In order to apply, students need to pass certain prerequisites including fulfilling at least 18 hours of “supporting” courses in business and accounting. Students must also maintain a GPA of 3.0 throughout the program.

Accreditation

  • The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA HLC)
  • The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)

Contact

The University of Nebraska at Kearney
905 West 25th Street
Kearney, NE 68849
Phone: (308) 865-8190
Email: gradcat@unk.edu
Website: http://aaunk.unk.edu/gradcatalogs/current/mba/mba.asp#accounting

University of Nebraska at Omaha

Department of Accounting

The University of Nebraska at Omaha is a large university located in the metropolitan focus of the state, and students interested in pursuing accredited accounting degree programs in Nebraska will have no trouble finding a challenging program here. While all three schools listed in this article hold AACSB accreditation, the University of Nebraska at Omaha boasts an impressive achievement: It is one of only two schools in the state of Nebraska that holds AACSB accreditation for accounting specifically. The school opened in 1908 and has grown into the second most “military friendly” campus in the nation serving more than 12,700 undergraduate students and nearly 2,700 graduate students each year.

Master of Accounting

Students do not need an undergraduate degree in accounting to apply for the Master of Accounting Program at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, but the rigorous course load may encourage interested applicants to hone their mathematical and business skills prior to enrolling. The department offers foundational courses to help students who are admitted on a provisional basis to meet the required prerequisites; foundational courses total 34 hours. The Master of Accounting program requires a total of 36 credit hours for completion. Students need to choose their credit hours from the following categories: 15 hours of core courses, nine hours related to contemporary business environment and 12 hours of electives. In addition to the course requirements, graduate candidates must complete one of three options. The department prefers for students to take a comprehensive final exam, but students may instead complete individual research worth three credits or a thesis worth up to six credits.

Accreditation

  • The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
  • Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)

Contact

Department of Accounting
College of Business Administration
Mammel Hall, Suite 228R
6708 Pine Street
Omaha, Nebraska 68182
Phone: (402) 554-3984
Email: jenriley@unomaha.edu
Website: http://www.unomaha.edu/college-of-business-administration/accounting/graduate-program/

University of Nebraska–Lincoln

School of Accountancy

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln marked its 145th anniversary in 2014, and U.S. News and World Report ranks the school at number 101 on its list of the best national universities in the country. Along with this distinction, The Princeton Review, Kiplinger’s and the Washington Monthly among others have recognized the University of Nebraska–Lincoln as one of the best valued colleges in the United States. The university’s School of Accountancy offers a Master of Professional Accountancy program centered on Big Ten education, and students searching for accredited accounting degree programs in Nebraska won’t have to look hard to find an affordable and stimulating education here.

Master of Professional Accountancy

For students looking for a graduate program in accounting, the University of Nebraska — Lincoln offers an intensive program designed to prepare graduates for careers in the ever-changing world of professional accounting. Students who complete the program will be eligible to sit for the Certified Public Accounting licensure exam in Nebraska and may qualify to sit for other state exams as well. Once admitted to the program, students must complete a total of 36 credit hours with at least 18 hours coming from the accounting courses available in the graduate catalog. For most students, the program demands two years of full-time study. However, students have the option to pursue a joint bachelor’s and master’s degree simultaneously. In this case, students will complete the requirements for both programs within four years. This option could be good for students with limited time and resources as the joint program saves time and money.

Accreditation

  • The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA HLC)
  • Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)

Contact

University of Nebraska-Lincoln
College of Business, CBA 378
P.O. Box 880488
Lincoln, NE 68588-0488
Phone: (402) 472-3823
Email: Jmorris7@unl.edu
Website: http://cba.unl.edu/departments/accountancy/programs/masters.aspx

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that accounting jobs will remain steady over the next decade, and students who pursue this industry should find ample opportunity in a state that boasts significant cultural heritage juxtaposed with modern manufacturing and business ventures. For students interested in accredited accounting degree programs in Nebraska, the schools listed above offer rigorous academic programs that will prepare them for varying careers in the field.